October 29, 2020 • Viva Nutra

How D Mannose Works With Urinary Tract Infection

If you have ever suffered from a urinary tract infection (a UTI), then you will know what exactly what we are talking about: hours and hours spent on the toilet in pain,

an insistent and distracting pain in the lower torso,

a maddening brain-fogginess that makes simple acts of concentration difficult,

the threat of kidney infections or bladder sepsis looming until you finally feel fully better,

yep we have experienced that too!

UTIs are very common

but the pain that they bring is sometimes overlooked, perhaps due to their banality, and almost certainly due to the gendered nature of such infections.

It is really frustrating: some people - usually those who have never experienced one - brush off UTIs as "merely" routine,

as if even routine illnesses cannot completely upend your life for at least a few days, sometimes for quite a bit longer.

But, luckily, there is science-supported supplement available for frequent and infrequent sufferers of UTIs

D Mannose is a powerful and effective prophylactic (a preventative measure) against urinary tract infections, helping all sorts of people in stopping themselves from getting so painfully ill.

If any of the descriptions above sound like something you (or someone you know) has been through, read on: this article will explain the observable mechanisms through which this medicine works, and how to use D Mannose for UTIs.

 

How does D Mannose Work?

If you have in the past sought out any advice about how to treat an infection of the urinary tract, you have probably heard about the benefits of cranberry juice.

And you have probably drunk it by the carton, too.

This home remedy is not just a myth, or a way of getting you to keep your liquid levels up in a way more enjoyable than drinking water

it actually has some evidence to back it up, too.

This is because cranberries contain D Mannose, a type of sugar that is related to glucose. It is not just found in cranberries: it is found in apples, oranges and broccoli.

 

There are numerous pieces of research that suggest that this sugar is good at preventing E coli (the most common sort of bacteria involved in UTIs, accounting for about 90% of cases) from latching on to your urinary tract.

This means that the bacteria cannot then grow and multiply in your body. And therefore you begin to feel better!

there is no longer a suitable environment in which the bacteria can live in, so they die out.

This mechanism helps prevent UTIs in those who do not have active infections, and also fasten recovery time for those who do

the bacteria simply do not have the chance to start colonising your urinary tract or lower bladder.

source: caymanchem.com

 

Although there are lots of fruit and vegetables that contain D Mannose, you would have to eat a huge amount of them to really enjoy the anti-bacterial effects of the substance.

It is far more efficient and economical to get the desired prophylactic and antimicrobial effects of D Mannose in supplement form.

So whether you are feeling the dreaded first pangs of pain when peeing, or worrying about the prospect of such pain in the future, this supplement can really help you out.

 

Benefits Of D-Mannose

1. You will likely recover from UTIs faster

Studies have shown that taking a D Mannose supplement improves the symptoms of those with active UTIs.

Some studies have even suggested that the supplement has comparable efficacy to some prescribed antibiotics.

Put simply, D Mannose really can help you get comfortable quicker when dealing with an active infection, and lessen your symptoms whilst such an infection lasts.

When enduring the pain of an active infection, taking D Mannose in supplement form is definitely worth considering - especially when taken as an adjuvant to other forms of UTI-fighting medication. 

 

2. It has been shown to be better than antibiotics at preventing further infection

In the same study discussed above, D Mannose was shown to be better than traditionally-prescribed antibiotics at keeping UTIS at bay over longer periods of time.

This is not just a one off observation: there have been other studies that support this claim too.

The evidence, therefore, recommends the supplement to those who suffer from chronic urinary tract infections, or those who have some of the risk factors for contracting them (being sexually active, being pregnant, undergoing the menopause to name a few).

The effects of repeat infection are no less mentally debilitating than they are physically: feelings of isolation and low self-worth are common when the chronic condition is not managed.

But it could be that, in the case of chronic UTI sufferers, all this pain is not necessary.

It could be that D Mannose is their strategy to evade the persistent threat of infection in a safe way, supported by peer reviewed research.

 

3. You will avoid antibiotic resistance

D-Mannose dislodges bacteria from your urinary tract, rather than being a chemical - that is, an antibiotic - that actively kills it off.

This means that taking it for long periods of time to prevent infections from occurring will not contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is something that you really don not want to happen, to you or anyone else: you don not want develop an infection that the existing range of drugs cannot and will not be able to eliminate.

Thus, it is a really good thing to have in your line of defense against UTIs.

 

4. It is a healthy way to fight UTIs

You could, theoretically, just consume a load of fruit and vegetables that contain the D Mannose sugar, and enjoy its anti-microbial benefits.

But frankly, this is not feasible or particularly healthy.

As mentioned before, people usually turn to cranberry juice as a way to fight off a UTI, and it is true that cranberries do contain this sugar.

But for diabetics in particular, consuming such a sugary drink could cause an unwanted and un-planned-for spike in blood sugar levels.

Given that pregnant women and older women are more likely to have diabetes and also are more likely to contract UTIs (specifically pregnancy-induced or otherwise) D Mannose is a safer way to alleviate symptoms.

It is also just more efficient: you will get a huge dose of a UTI-fighting substance in one fell swoop. And what's more, avoiding indiscriminate amounts of glucose-heavy food and drink is a good idea for everyone.

D Mannose will allow you to get better without causing you any other known health concerns.

 

5. Evidence suggests it is safe. 

As well as its specific advantage over the more sugary home cure of cranberry juice, D Mannose boasts little to no reported side effects by those who use it.

There is not currently any evidence of interactions, either. Obviously, the risk of ingesting anything - even naturally occurring substances that you eat everyday - is not zero D Mannose is not an unsafe supplement to add to your health and wellbeing regime.

 

6. It may well be good for your gut, too.

The benefits of this sugar are not necessarily limited to your urinary tract. There is some evidence to suggest that D Mannose is a prebiotic, too.

This means that it can help cultivate 'good' bacteria in your small intestine, staving off problems like dysbiosis (having the wrong balance of gut flora) and thus preventing attendant symptoms like nausea, belching, and problems passing stools. 

 

How much D Mannose is recommended to take?

Because it is a supplement and not a government-regulated drug, there are no official guidelines on how much D Mannose you should take.

But we do know that D Mannose can be consumed safely in supplement form at quite high levels, and that it does help those with or wanting to prevent UTIs.

There are, however, some basic rules to follow, and some recommended doses that people follow.

Higher doses are recommended for when you are trying to ease the symptoms of and clear an active infection

when staving off further infection, you'll want to take a lower dose:

 

For when you are treating an active infection

You should take 1.5 grams twice a day for three days; after this, 1 gram for the following fourteen days.

For when you are preventing possible infection

You should take 2 grams daily or, otherwise, 1 gram twice daily. (source: healthline.com)

 

Bear in mind that you may have to take multiple capsules or half-capsules in order to reach the requisite dosage for your desired outcome.

You'll have to do some quick math before taking D Mannose to ensure that you are getting the correct and most resource-efficient dose. 

 

Conclusion

And there we have it! a potted guide to D Mannose as a supplement to prevent and treat urinary tract infections.

It is an easy to take and widely available treatment, and has completely changed some chronic and severe UTI sufferers lives for the better, and we hope that it might, if you give it a try, do the same for you as well.

We know that those salty "cystitis relief" dissolvable sachets often just don't cut it in terms of relieving symptoms, and that antibiotics aren't without risks when used as long-term medications.

D Mannose may well be the answer to both of these problems.

why not give it a try?